Plug valve actuator



Dec. 25, 1951 c. w. ANDERSON PLUG VALVE ACTUATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Nov. 16, 1943 {O DIVENTOR. Jay- 1 2? u? VgJZ' YESSES. 4. at...

A; firTO/QNE mi C. W. ANDERSON PLUG VALVE ACTUATOR Dec. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 16, 1943 6 INVENTOR. BY -01w v Dec. 25, 1951 c. w. ANDERSON 2,580,212

' PLUG VALVE ACTUATOR.

Original Filed Nov. 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 x INVENTOR WITNESSES. 53W. BY Q 7, d. W

Dec. 25, 195] c, w, ANDERSON 2,580,212

PLUG VALVE ACTUATOR I Original Filed Nov. 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HVVEIQVTI'OR. BY 74 awe Patented Dec. 25, 1.951

PLUG VALVE ACTUATOR ClaytonW'. Anderson, East Huntingdon Town- 4 ship, Pa, assignor to Kathryn Schmidt Anderson, Scottdale, Pa.

Substituted for application Serial No. 510,450, No-

vcmber 16, 1 9431 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,112

10. Claims.

This invention relates. to plug valves, and more particularly to those in which a tapered or conical plug is moved axially from its seat before it is rotated and is returned to its seat after it is rotated. This application is a substitute for my identical forfeited application fieriali Number 510,450; filed November 16, 1 943, and allowed June t is among the objects of this invention to provide a plug valve which is quickly unseated, rotated, seated" again by continuous movement of the same operating means in the same direction; and whichis of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

In accordance with this invention a tapered valve plug is mounted in avalve casing for rotary and axial movements. There is a stemat one end of the plug around which a cylindrical sleeve is rotatable and which is provided in its side wall with a pair of oircumierentially spaced inclined slots. A. stationary member encircles the sleeve and is provided in its sidewall with a pairof sircumierentiall'y extending slots which are substantially horizontal and each of which has a vertical extension at each end normally beside an end of an inclined slot. A connecting member is mounted on the stem which extends through the inclined slots and normally into a pair of the slot extensions. Means is provided for rotating the sleeve in the stationary member whereupon the connecting member is moved vertically and the plug is unseat-ed while the engagement of the connecting member with the walls of the slot extensions temporarily prevents the plug and stem from turning. In one form of the invention the vertical extension atone end of each of the slots in the stationary member projects upwardly normally besidethe upper end of one of the inclined slots which appear straight when viewed from the side, and the other extensions project downwardly normal-1y beside the lower ends of the inclined slots. Also, the connecting member is mounted on the valve stem for l ted vertical movement thereon. Means is pr'ovl ing the sleeve vertically when it is first turned, and the sleeve is connected to the stem such a way as to move the stem vertically with it tounseat the plug. However, the plug and stem are prevented tcmporariiy from turning by engagement of the connecting memoer w-ith the walls of the slot extensions. Inanother embodiment of the inv'enticn'each of. the inclined slots-slopes away from its center portion in the same direction. and the vertical extensions on the s'l'ot's in thestat'ionary' member all project in the Sam -d1 This application February 2. rection; The connecting member is secured to the valve stem sothat when the slots in the rotatable sleeve raise the connecting member it moves the plug off its seat, but the sleeve does not move vertically'.

- The invention is-illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view, mostly broken away, of one embodiment showing the plug seated and closed ;-,.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the slots of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central vertical section with the plug unseated andhalf way open; Fig. 4 is a reduced fragmentary view indicating the position of the operating. parts whenthe plug is seated in its open position; Figs. 5 and 6 are views likeFigs. 1 and 2 of amodified embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a view similarto Fig. 3 but only partly in section; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4; and Fig. 9 isa side view of the rotatable sleeve alone- Referring to Figs. 1 and. 2 of the drawings, a

valve casingis provided with the usual passage 2 in which. there is an upwardly tapered. valve plug 3 provided with a transverse passage 4. Rigidly connected to the top of the plug is a valve stem 6 thatextends up above the casing. Rigidly mounted on. topof the casing is a cylindrical dome-like housing I having a. central opening 8 in its upper end through which the valve stem extends. The portion of the stem inside this housing is enlarged to provide a tapered shoulder 9 at the upper end of the enlargement. Encircling the. steminfthe housing is a sleeve l I that is rotatable around the stem. The upper portion is to receive. a handle M or wrench or any other device for-turning the sleeve.

The upper and lower ends of. the sleeve are provided with integral. cam surfaces 15- and; I6 that cooperate, respectively, with a cam I]. rigidly mounted. in the topof the housing, and a cam l3 rigidly mounted in the bottom of the housing. These cam surfaces are so shaped that when the sleeve is turned they will move it downwardly so that it. will, throughv engagement with stem shoulder 9', pushthe stem down to unseat the plug. The sleeve is rotated in opening the valve; During the: first 45 rotation the plug is nn'seated as just described, and during the last 45 rotation the lower cams raise the. sleeve to its upper position; as spring. l9 at thebottom of the 3 plug simultaneously lifting the plug to its seat. During the intermediate 90 rotation of the sleeve it turns the plug 90 by means of a connection about to be described.

To keep the plug from rotating while it is being unseated and seated, so that it will not grind on its seat, and yet to cause it to be turned 90 by sleeve H while unseated, the enlarged portion of the valve stem in housing I is provided with a vertical slot 2| extending transversely therethrough as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A cross pin 22 extends horizontally through this slot in which it can be moved vertically. Extending through the side Wall of the sleeve on opposite sides of its axis is a pair of circumferentially spaced slots 23 and 24 that are straight and inlined about 30, but the degree of inclination is not critical. Encircling the sleeve is a, cylindrical member or ring 26 that is rigidly mounted in the housing. This ring is provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots 21 and 28 each of which has an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots, and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cross pin extends from the valve stem through the inclined slots in the sleeve and into the slots in the surrounding ring. Each of the inclined and the horizontal slots is long enough to permit the cross pin to be turned through a 90 arc. Preferably, rollers 38 are rotatably mounted on the pin in the inclined slots to provide anti-friction bearings.

The normal position of the 'pin, that is, the position it occupies when the plug is seated, is at either the top or the bottom of the vertical slot through the valve stem. In either position, the valve may be either open or closed. The drawing the top of the slot. The inclined slot in the sleeve extend from a plane slightly above the top of the stem slot to a plane slightly below the bottom of that slot.

Assuming that the valve is closed with the movable parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle [4 must be swung in a counterclockwise direction in order to open the valve. This will turn the sleeve and immediately the cams l and H at its upper end will start to move it downwardly in stationary ring 26. This downward movement continues during 45 of rotation, and during that time the sleeve pushes the valve plug from its seat. However, while theplug is being unseated it can not turn on its seat, be cause cross pin 22 'in the valve stem is projecting into the upper extensions of ring slots 2! and 28 which prevent the pin and stem from rotating with the sleeve. On the other hand, during this lowering and initial turning of the sleeve the up per walls of its inclined slots are moving the pin 'downwardly in the ring slots.

By the time the sleeve has been turned 45 and the plug is fully unseated, the pin has emerged from the upper extensions of the ring slots and therefore is no longer prevented from slot 2|.

rigidly mounted in the housing.

walls of the horizontal slots. There is nothing to stop the sleeve from tuming,'however, and during its next rotation the cams l6 and I8 at its lower end move it upwardly in housing I. The cross pin, which can not turn any farther with the sleeve, is moved by the inclined slots down into the downward extensions of the ring slots until the pin strikes the bottom of stem This stops the rotation of the sleeve which is then in its upper position with the plug in seated but open position.

When the sleeve is turned the opposite direc tion in order to close the valve, the above cycle of operation is reversed. Thus, the cross pin first moves up out of the downward extensions of the ring slots while the'plug is being unseated by the downwardly moving sleeve, then turns-with the sleeve in a clockwise direction to turn the plug to closed position, and then the pin moves upwardly into the upper extensions of the ring slots while the plug rises to its seat. All of this occurs while handle l4 is'being turned 180 in a clockwise direction.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 9 a downwardly tapered valve plug 42 (Fig. 5) is rotatably mounted in a valve casin 41 in which it also is movable axially. The passage 42 through the plug is adapted to register with the passage 43 through the casing when the valve is open. The stem 44 extends up through a cylindrical dome-like housing 46 rigidly mounted on top of the casing. Encircling the stem inside the housing is a rotatable sleeve 41 that engages the top and bottom of the housing so that the sleeve cannot move axially. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a reduced cylindrical extension 48 that projects above the housing. The upper end of this extension may be provided with a squared, tapered portion 49 or the like to receive an operating handle 50 or any other suitable device for turning the sleeve 180 to open or close the valve.

To raise the plug from its seat and yet prevent it from rotating while this is occurring, a

cross pin 52 (Fig. 6) extends horizontally through the stem in which it is rigidly mounted. Extending through the side wall of the sleeve on opposite sides of its axis is a pair of circumferentially spaced slots 53 and 54 each of which is in the form of a flattened inverted V, that is, it is inclined downwardly away from its center toward both ends as shown in Fig. 9. Encircling the sleeve is a cylindrical member or ring 56 that is This ring is provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced, nearly horizontal slots 51 and 58 each of which is slightly higher at its center than at its ends. Each of the ring slots has downward extensions or notches at both ends, each of these notches being located normally beside one end of each of the inclined sleeve slots as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cross pin extends from the valve stem through the inclined slots in the sleeve and into the slots in the surrounding ring. Each of the sleeve and ring slots is long enough to permit the cross pin to be turned through a arc. Preferably, rollers Eli are rotatably mounted on the pin in the sleeve slots to depending upon which pair of notches the pin is engaging.

Assuming that the valve is closed with the .movable parts in the positions shown in Figs. ,5

a. counterclockwise. directicn: in order'toopen. the valve; will: turn sleeve. er. and the inclined lower walls. of' sleeve slots: 53: and 541 will start; to move. the: ends-of the cross: pin up;' out of the ring slot: notches. This will: continue. during the: first 45 notation of the sleeve. Elevationtof the cross pin; in. this. manner raises the valve stone and thereby lifts: the plug'trom its. seat; The plug can. not. turn. while. it is. being unseated', because the cross pin: is held againstturning by the side wallsof. the ring slot notches;

By the-time. thesleeve has been turned. 45!" and the; plug is fully unseated,. the cross has emerged from. the. ring. slot notches and. therefore; is no longer prevented from turning: with the sleeve. The moment: the: ends; of the pin start. to engage the, slightly incline d bottom walls or the; ring slots thev rollers 6.91 are started. up into shallow recesses: 62: at the apexes' oi" the sleeve slots; These. recesses. help; hold the, roller-ls: and pin at, the centers. of. the sleeve slots. as the. pin is. moved from one end. of: the ring slots; to. the other. Fig. 7' of the; drawing: shows: the cross pint. at: its: highest: point; in the: sleeve and ring slots, which is at their centers with the valve half open. This lateral movement of the; pin alongthe. ring slots turns the: valve stem and plug until the: passage through. the. plug is substantially in. line with: thepassage through. the valve casing, The; rotationv of the plug is. then stopped by the engagement of the ends of the p n with the end Walls of: theering slots; Thereis; nothing to stopthe sleeve from turning, however, and during; its next. 45f rotation the inclined upper walls: of the. sleeve slots move the ends of the pin down into the ring slot notches as shown in Fig. 8. Whenv the pin reaches the bottoms. of these. notches the sleeve can be: rotated. no farther, but by then the plug is seated in open position. To close the valve the above cycle of operation is reversed.

It will be understood that the, two valve; plugs illustrated herein could be tapered in theopposite. direction, and therrtheplug ofliig. I. lifted from its seat and the: plug'of. Fig; 5 pu hed from its seat byturning the ring and s eeve slots bottom. side up. The. operatingmechanisms; would function as before; but the. movements: or the cross p nsand valve stems would be reversed;

According to the provisions or the: patentstatutes, I have, explained the principleanrlm de of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I new consider to represent its best embodiment. However;. I desire; to have it understood v that, within the scope: of, theappended claims; the; invention ma bepracti'ce i otherwise than. as; specifically illustrated and described.

1L. Operating: mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a: rotatable and. axially movable plug, said mechanism. comprising a vertical stem; a: rotatable: andv axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling. said. stem and provided in; its side. wall. with. a. pair of circumierentially spaced inclined s1ots,. said, sleeve: being? connected: to the stem for moving the stem; axially. a. stationary member concentric with the sleeve and. provided in. its, side wall witha pair of circumferentially spacedv horizontal. slots; each of. saidhorizontal slots. having an upward. emension at: one, end.

normally beside theiupper end: of one. oitheqim clined slots and. a, downward extension at. the other; end. normally beside the; lower; end. of. the other inclined slot, 8, connecting member. mounted on said: stem for-limited vertical movement thereon and. extending. into said; inclined slots and: normally into.- a pair of said. horizontal slot extensions, means for rotating: said. sleeve relative to said stationary member, and means for moving the sleeve axially when it is firstturned while the stem: is prevented from turning by engagement. of said connecting member with the walls. ofv said. slot extensions.

2.. Operating mechanism for avalvehaving a casing containing a rotatable: and axially -movable plug, said mechanism comprising a. vertical stem, a: rotatable: and axially movable cylindricat sleeve. encircling said stemv and provided in its. sidewall with av pair of 'circumferentially spaced. inc-linedv slots, said sleevev being connected to the: stem. for moving the. stem. axially, a. stationary member encircling the sleeve. and provided. in its side; Wall with. a. pair of circumferentially spaced. horizontal slots, each. of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one. end normally beside the upper end of one of the. inclined: slots and. a. downward. extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem for limited vertical movement. thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into. a pair" of said horizontal. slot extensions", means for" rotating said sleeve in: said stationary member, and means for moving the: sleeve. axially when it is. first turned while the stem is prevented from turning, by engagement of said connecting member with the walls of said slot extensions.

3. Operating mechanism for a valve having-a casing. containing a rotatable and axially movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stem, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encirclin said stem and providecl'in its side wall with a pair 01' circumferentially spaced inclined slots, said sleeve being connected to. the stem for moving the stem axially, a stationary member encircling the sleevev and pro.- vided: in its. sidewall with a pair of circumferentiallyspaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end. normally beside the upper end of one of the. inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside. the lower end of. the. other inclined: slot, a connecting member mounted on. said stem for limited: vertical movement; thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into a pair of said horizontal. slot extensions, means for rotating said. sleeve in said stationary member, means for movingthei sleeve axially when it is first turnedwhile thev stem is prevented from. turning byengagement of said connecting member with the walls: or said slot extensions, and means for moving the sleeve axially backto; its. original positonafteritthasbeenmtated:

4; Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a. rotatable and axially movable plug; said mechanism comprising a vertical stem, a rotatable and axially movable'cyl'indrical-1 sleeve. encircling said stem and provided in its. side wall with. a. pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, saidsleeve being connected to the stem for moving the stem axially, a; stationary member encircling. the sleeve: and: provided; in itsv side: wall. with; a pair of; circumferentially spaced. horizontal. slots; each. of. said horizontalv slots having: an upward extension at one end-normally beside-the upper;- end of one of: the: inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem forlimited vertical movement thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into apair of said horizontal slot extensions, means for rotating said sleeve in said stationary member, and a stationary cam at one end of the sleeve for moving it axially when it is first turned while the stem is prevented from turning by engagement of said connecting member with the walls of said slot extensions.

5. Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a rotatable and axially movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stem, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling said stem and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, said sleeve being connected to the stem for moving the stem axially, a stationary member encircling the sleeve and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem for limited vertical movement thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into a pair of said horiozntal slot extensions, means for rotating said sleeve in said stationary member, the upper and lower ends of said sleeve being provided with cam surfaces, and stationary cams at the opposite ends of said sleeve cooperating with said cam surfaces for moving the'sleeve axially in one direction when it is first turned and in the opposite direction at the conclusion of its rotation, whereby to move the stem axially.

6. Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a rotatable and axially movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stemprovided with a vertical slot extending transversely 'therethrough, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling said stem and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, said sleeve being connected to the stem for moving the stem axially, a stationary member encircling the sleeve and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a cross pin extending through said stem slot and inclined slots and normally projecting into a pair of said horizontal slot extensions, means for rotating said sleeve in said stationary member, and means :for moving the sleeve axially when it is first turned while the stem is prevented from turning stem and provided in its side wall with a pair -of circumierentially spaced inclined slots, said :sleeve being'connected to the stem for moving :the stem axially, a stationary member encircling 8. the sleeve and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a cross pin extending through said stem slot and inclined slots and normally projecting into a pair of said horizontal slot extensions, rollers rotatably mounted on said pin in. the inclined slots for engagement with the walls of the inclined slots, means for rotating said sleeve in said stationary member, and means for moving the sleeve axially when it is first turned while the stem is prevented from turning by engagement of said pin with the walls of said slot extensions.

8. Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a rotatable and vertically movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stem provided with an annular shoulder, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling saidstem and having a portion engaging said shoulder, said sleeve being provided in its side. wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, a stationary member encircling the sleeve and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem for limited vertical movement thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into a pair of said horizontal slot extensions. means for rotating said sleeve in said stationary member, and means for moving the sleeve axially against said stem shoulder when'it is first turned,

whereby to move the stem axially while the stem connecting member with the walls of said slot extensions.

9. Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing'containing a rotatable and axially movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stem, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling said stem and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, said sleeve being connected to the stem for moving the stem axially, said sleeve having an upwardly projecting extension of reduced diameter, a housing rigidly mounted on said casing and enclosing the sleeve, said housing having a top opening through which said sleeve extension and stem project, a cylindrical member rigidly mounted inside of said housing and encircling the sleeve, said member being provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem for limited vertical movement thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normally into a pair of said horizontal slot extensions, means for rotating said sleeve extension, and cam means in one end of said housing for moving the sleeve axially when it is first turned while the stem is prevented from turning by engagement of said connecting member with the walls of said slot extensions. I

10. Operating mechanism for a valve having a casing containing a rotatable and axially movable plug, said mechanism comprising a vertical stem, a rotatable and axially movable cylindrical sleeve encircling said stem and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced inclined slots, said sleeve being connected to the stem for moving the stem axially, a stationary member encircling the sleeve and provided in its side wall with a pair of circumferentially spaced horizontal slots, each of said horizontal slots having an upward extension at one end normally beside the upper end of one of the inclined slots and a downward extension at the other end normally beside the lower end of the other inclined slot, a connecting member mounted on said stem for limited vertical movement thereon and extending through said inclined slots and normal- 10 ly into a pair of said horizontal slot extensions, means for rotating said sleeve 180 in said stationary member, said slots being long enough to permit said connecting member to be turned 90 by said sleeve, and means for moving the sleeve axially while it is being turned the first 45 while the stem is prevented from turning by engagement of said connecting member with the walls of said slot extensions.

CLAYTON W. ANDERSON.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

